Foot measuring device



0a. 19, 1943. Buss" 2,332,292

FOOT MEASURING DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1942 lNVENT OR Elmer Jared Bliss ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 19, 1943 FOOT MEASURING DEVICE Elmer Jared Bliss, Chilmark, Mass.

Application February 18,

' 9 Claims.

This invention relates to foot measuring devices adapted for mailing, by the use of which customers may, with facility and accuracy, determine the size of shoes required for a proper fitting of their feet so as to enable. them to order by mail and thus obviate the necessity for the customary fitting calling'for their presence in a shoe store. I

The measuring of' feet preliminaryto a trial fitting of shoes is usuallyaccomplished while the customer is seated. fThe shoes selected by the aid of the measurement obtained, are then placed on the feet and the customer is asked'to stand in the shoes in order to enable the clerk to ascertain by the customers reaction to the feel of the shoes and his own observations whether the shoes are of the correct size, and where the fit appears to be improper to indicate, generally, the required size. More often than not several trial fittings are needed. This is primarily because the measurements taken ,when the feet are at rest donot truly represent the size of the feet of the customer when standing due to the distortion 'of the bone structure as well as of the muscle and tissue thereof in response to the weight of the body.

Any device intended for use by the customer for determining the correct size of the shoe without thebenefit of trial fittings or theadvantage of a clerks experience andcounsel must duplithe feet will be subjected when encased in a 1942, Serial No. 431,417

in size between the two, and under actual con ditions present in shoes worn by the customer.

Another object is to provide a composite support Comprising a pair of cartons formed to receive and support, respectively, the right and left feet of a prospective customer, and hinged together along longitudinal edges thereof to permit folding of the support so as to encloseauxiliary pieces of the apparatus to facilitate mailing. 1

Another object is to provide the platforms by which the customer is supported when, taking the measurements, with depressions, having sub stantially vertical walls and of a size to'accommodate the largest feet capable of being fitted by the shoe distributor from whom the prospective customer wishes to buy, for retaining a plurality of blocks of multiples of one sixth of aninch in thickness, to. be interposed in front of each foot and a series of strips preferably one twelfth of aninch in thickness which in use areinterposed at th sides of the feet, for indicating by the number and. size of the blocks and strips required to fill the area between the foot and the walls of the depression, the length and width of thelshoes needed for proper fitting of the feet. i Another object isto provide retainers to de lineate the proper location of the heels of the customer in positioninghis feet on the platforms formeasurement, said retainers being removable for storage with the measuring blocks'in the depressions formed for the feet in the respective properly'fitted shoe with the customer standing. I

An important factor to be considered therefore, is that when standing normally most of the weight of a person will and shouldbe carried by the balls of his feet.

to simulatethe contourof the interior supporting surface of a shoe and particularly with the heel portion elevated with respectto the part intended for the support of the ball of the'foot.

More specifically. an objecthereof is the provision of a pair of platforms of the character generally indicated above, having delineated thereon-the exact location for the feet while taking their measurements, in combination with a plurality'of measuring units of diiferentsiz'es adapted for insertion between eachfoot and abutments formed at either side and in front of each foot for indicating the size of shoe neededffor a pro-per fitting, each foot being thus measured simultaneously so as to ascertain anyvariation platforms when the device is prepared for mail ing. I

Other objects and corresponding advantages of my invention such for example as, maximum economy of-manufacture, substantial duplication in the platforms of the shap of the shoe insofaras such shape affects the contour of the feet when supporting the weight of the body, and extreme simplicity of construction and use which is conducive toaccurate results by the most inexperienced persons, will be apparent to those of skill'in the art upon an examination of the following description and the accompanyin drawing. p y

In thedrawing: I Fig. 1 isa perspective view of a device embodying my invention as it appears when folded for mailing; r I v I s Fig. ,2 is a perspective view of the apparatus vwiththe heel retainers installed, and with the measuring blocks assembled in their relative positions as when in use;

g- 3 is a plan view. of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2 but with a right. foot, represented by the several views, I designates generally each of' a pair of box-like rectangular platforms which may be composed of cardboard or the like. The platforms I are hinged together along upper longitudinal edges by means of a strip of tape 8 or by any conventional means well known in the art,

whereby one platform 'I may be turned over upon the other and the hinge 8 will prevent their lateral displacement with respect to one another while in transit through the mails or otherwise, as well as prevent confusion in the minds of the customer as to their arrangement for use. One platform 1 is providedfor each of the customers feet so that both may be measured at the same time. As the platforms are identical the following detailed description of one thereof will be understood tobe a description of either.

The box 9 comprising each platform I is formed of a flat bottom In (Fig. 4), upright sides II and end walls I2, and a top, I3 supported at its edges by sides I I and end walls I2 9. distance from the bottom I!) substantially equal to or slightly greater than the depth of the heel of an average shoe. At. one end of top IS the outline of a heel of a foot is delineated as indicated at I4. The ends of the heel line I4 converge and'extend to ward-the opposite end of top I3 to represent the instep of the foot as at,I5. The top I3 is cut through as at H along the instep line to sever the middle portion of the top from the flanking edges I6 thereof. The cuts I'I demarking the instep diverge outwardly a short. distance and then sharply inwardly as at I8 (Fig. 4) a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the box and then again diverge on straight lines as at IS parallel, respectively, ,to the lines of their diversion rearwardly of the inward cuts I8. The portions of the top adjoining the last-named diverging straight cuts are folded downwardly on lines continuing the first divergin cuts of the instep so as to contact the bottom of the box and thereby afford support for theadjacent side edges IS .of the top and provide a backing for-inserted width-blocks, hereinafter referred to more in detail.

Top I3 is cut inwardly a 'at 2| from the points of extreme diversion of cuts 18 distances slightly greater than the width of sides I I and thence on lines parallel to the sidesof the box to points adjacent, but equi-distantly spaced from, the end of top I3 opposite to that on which the heel is delineated as is indicated by the numeral 22. The portions 23 of top I3 adjacent each of the parallel cuts 22 are folded downwardly into contact with bottom IE on lines parallel to but spaced from sides I I of the platform slightly farther than the foremost points of the backing 20, so as to provide lateral support for theends of a series of length-blocks, the size, shape and use of which i more fully described below.

Top I3 is further out parallel to end walls I2 of the platform on a line 24 joining the forward ends of cuts 22 so as to sever the forward end of the middle portion of the top therefrom and form a tongue 25.

Tongue 25 slopes downwardly from its point of joinder to the heel portion of the top, to the bottom. of the box to simulate the portion of a shoe adapted to support the instep of a foot. The forward portion of tongue 25 is glued or otherwise secured to bottom I9. A tread piece 28 of stifl material overlies the tongue 25 and is attached thereto but is of an outline conforming in contour to the foot area of the platform.

A block of wood 21 or the like is interposed be tween top !3 and bottom I!) of the box at the rearward end of the latter to lend support to the heel portion which is elevated with respect to the ball and toeportion of the tongue 25 and tread piece 26.

A gauge block 28 is similarly secured in a stationary position under the lip 29 comprising the front end of the top between the parallel cuts 22.

A heel gauge or, guard 29, shaped to conform generally to the heelof apersons foot and having a flangedbase 30, is. adapted for releasable attachment to the top in a position coinciding with the line I4 delineating the back of the heel. To this end a series of depending studs BI are secured to flange 36 for reception in holes formed in top I3 and the supporting block 2] to retain the heel guard in, the desired position but pere mit its removal when not in use.

In accordance with the use of my invention the platforms 1 are arranged as shown in Figs. 2 and}. The heel guards .29 are placed inupright position at theback of the Outline of the heel markedQIL the top of each platform Where'they may be'retained by the engagement of studs 3| in the holes of the top. The customer then stands, withoutshoes'on the platform, arranging his feet with his heels firmly against guards 29'. His heels will thus be elevatedwith respect to the ballsof his feet by supporting block. 21. The weight of the customers body should be distributed equally upon both feet in a manner closely approximating the normal conditions to which his feet will be subjected'when the customer stands in properlyfitted shoes, insofar as such conditions affect the shape of his feet. With the customerfs feet thus positioned on the platforms 1 the width and length thereof, in terms'of shoe sizes, maybe ascertained by the use'of measuring blocks. The blocks 32, utilized for measuring the foot-length, are ofa length to fit snugly between the parallel supporting portions" of the top and are ofdiffep ent thicknesses. A block 32, one-sixth of an inch thick representing one half of a shoe size, and four additional blocks '32 of a thickness equal to different multiples of one-sixth of an inch are provided, whereby different ones of blocks 32 may be combined to equal a total thickness of from one sixth to any multiple of one sixth of an inch up to four and one sixth inches representing twelve and one-half shoes sizes. Thestaticnary gauge block 28 i spaced from the installed heel guard 29, a distance sufficient to accommodate therebetween a foot taking the largest size shoe which the merchant canfurnish, e. of the order of shoe size 14, as in the embodiment illustrated. With this spacing of the heel guard 23 and gauge block 28 and with blocks 32 ofv the thicknesses above indicated, any size foot takin from a one and one half size to a size fourteen shoe. may be measured for a fitting by select- 1 g, theproper combination offthe blocks 32.01.

suitable, thickness, required to fill the area bel the shoe size number which it represents when in use. The size of shoe required to lit a particular foot may be obtained by adding up the sizes stamped on the blocks 32 which are interposed between the toes of the customers foot and the gauge block 28 and then deducting the total from the maximum size number i. e. 14, which may be gauged on the platform. To aid the customer in ascertaining the size shoe required to fit the particular foot measured the tread piece 26 may be calibrated to represent half and full sizes from the gauge block 28 towards the heel down to one and one half size graduation. Even with the tread piece 28 so calibrated, blocks 32ers highly valuable in facilitating reading of the scale by the customer, as will be obvious to those of skill in this art. I

The Width of the shoes required to fit the customer feet is ascertained with the aid of a series of thin strips 33', each one-twelfth of an inch in thickness and of a width substantially equal to the depth of box ii. The width strips 33 are inserted in pairsone on each side of the foot against the backing it. Backing portions l9 of the top are spaced apart a distance to represent the width of the widest shoe which the seller can furnish, e. g., a shoe having a width designated in the art as E. Each pair of strips interposed at the sides of the feet indicate a reduction in width of one size. A sufficient number of strips 33 may be included with the apparatus to narrow the area between the backing portions it to represent a shoe width of the order of A or AA, as desired, in accordance with the conventional manner of designating width sizes. As heretofore indicated the apparatus of my invention is intended for use by the customer who finds it inconvenient to attend the shoe store in person. Being hinged together, the platforms 7 may be easily prepared for mailing to the customer. The depression formed in each platform for the ball and toe of the foot of the customer may be large enough to accommodate all of the blocks 32 and strips 33, as well as heel guard 29 which is to be assembled with that platform. One platform may then be turned over upon the other to enclose the blocks strips 33 and guards 29' and provide a compact package adapt- I, able for facile wrapping and sealing in a well known manner. i

It will be thus seen that the device of my invention is economical in manufacture and extremely simple to use yet affords support for the feet similar to that provided by a properly fitted shoe while carrying the weight of the body of the customer, so as to permit measurement of the platformhaving a'recess thereinto receive a foot, means'to delineate a position of the heel of the foot on said platform, and a series of blocks for interposition between the forward end of said reces'sand the toes of the foot for indicating, by the size and number of 'the'blocks required to fill said area, the length ofthe foot.

2. In a device. of thech'aracter described, a platform to receive a foot, having an abutment in advance of the toes of the foot to be measured, means to delineate a positionof the heel of the foot with respect to said abutment, and a plurality of measure-indicating spacing members adaptedfor positioning between said' abutment and the toes of the foot to indicate the length of the foot. 5

3. In a device of the character described, a platform to receive a foot, said platform having an elevated heel support and an abutment in advance of the toes of the foot to be measured, means to delineate a position of the heel of the foot on said heel support, and a plurality of measure-indicating spacing members for filling the area between the toes of the foot so positioned and said abutment'for indicating by the size of said composite means the length of the foot.

4. In a device of the character described, a platform for the support of a foot to be measured, said platform having an abutment in advance of the toes of the foot, and abutments on each side of the foot, means to delineate a position of the heel of the foot with respect to said abutment, a plurality of measure-indicating spacing members for positioning between said abutment, and the toes of the foot to indicate the length'of the foot, and a plurality of 'measure-indicating spacin members adapted to be placed between thefoot and said abutment spaced from each side of the foot to indicate the width of the foot.

5. In a device of the character described, a platform having a depression therein for the support of a foot, portions of said platform forming oblique sides of said depression, an abutment at the forward end of said depression, means to delineate a position of the heel of the foot on said platform, said side portions being spaced apart a predetermined distance, said abutment and said last-named means being spaced apart a predeter- "mined distance, and a series of blocks ofjpredeindicate;respectively by the number and size of feet while in the shape and form they will assume in shoes of proper fit. I

While I have illustrated and described but one embodiment of my invention it will be appreciated that many changes may be made in size, design, number and proportion of the various parts, e. g., in the relative size of blocks 32 and strips 33, the elevation of the heel portion of the platform with respect to the support for the ball of the foot, or the contour of the heel guard, and that other well known means for securing the heel guards 29 in position may be substituted for that shown, without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In adevice of the character described, a

said blocks the width and length of the foot.

6. In a device of the character described, a pair of platforms, each having a depression therein for the support of a foot,said depressions each having an abutment at their sides and at their respective forward ends means to hinge said platforms together for registry of said depressions with one another when the platforms are folded'together, and means adapted for interposition between the feet and said abutments at sides and ends of said platforms respectively for gauging the width and length of the foot.

7. In a foot measuring device for shoe fitting, a base, a shallow foot-receiving receptacle having a floor formed in said base, the fioor'of said receptacle being flat, said receptacle having walls perpendicular to its floor, said walls roughly outlining a floor area larger than the sole and toes of the fore part of a foot to be measured, the front end wall of said receptacle and part of both side walls thereof enclosing three sides of a'rectangular floor area of saidreceptacle, the remaining portions of each ofsaid side walls of said receptacle diverging from a. heel rest and at an angle to said parallel side walls, a plurality of indicatingly measured spacing members adapted to occupy said rectangular area of said receptacle, a plurality of strips of' variable measured thicknesses adapted to occupy spaces between the sides of a foot tobe measured and the angularly disposed portions of the side Wallsof said receptacle,a heel rest substantially levelwith the surface ofv said base, said heel rest being joined by an inclined plane surface to the floor of said receptacle, and a heel guard'for saidheel rest; substantially as and for the purpose described. a

8. In a foot measuring device for shoe fitting, a platform, a shallowreceptacle sunk below the surface of said platform, said receptacle being of larger lateral and longitudinal dimensions than the surface area of the sole and toes of' the fore part of a foot to be measured, said receptacle having a floor and a frontv end'wall and side Walls, said last-mentioned walls being eac-h perpendicw lar to the surface of-said floor, a-rear Wall of said receptacle upwardly inclined to the surface of said platform, a heel rest, a heel guard, and a plurality of variably measured spacers to fill the space between the side Walls and the front end Wall of said receptacle and corresponding parts of a foot being measured, substantially as de scribed.

9. As an article of manufacture, a duplex shoe fitting receptacle for coincidentally receiving for measuring fore parts of a right and left foot, said receptacle having floor areas adapted to support the fore part of the sole and toes of each foot, said areas being respectively surrounded by perpendicular walls, and'also being of larger lateral and longitudinal dimensions than corresponding parts'of the feet to be measured, said walls forming straight and vertical abutments at the sides and front ends of said receptacles, and a plurality of measure-indicating spacing members adapted to be inserted between end walls and side walls and each of the feet being measured.

ELMER JARED BLISS. 

